Passion for Port inaugural tour & pix
Posted: 15:42 Thu 14 Oct 2010
Last month, we debuted our PASSION FOR PORT tour: http://www.dolcetours.com/ep_port.htm. This tour includes 2 days in Oporto visiting the Port lodges, then 4 days upstream where the vineyards are -- as well as the new energy and investments.
It's always a nail-biter to run a new tour. But this time, I can truly say I had a great time. For starters, I think we selected our wineries well (they included Grahams, Kopke, Taylor, Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Tedo, Passadouro, Quinta do Vesuvio, plus 3 of the 5 Douro Boys: Quinta Vallado, Niepoort, and Quinta Vale Dona Maria). Just as importantly, our hosts were uniformly generous with their time, passionate about their work, and willing and able to answer all questions, from basic to arcane.
But above all, the Douro's scenery is breathtaking -- how the mountains fold and twist, how the terraces make patterns like hatchings on a Renaissance etching. The city of Oporto has its own charm as well, offering Baroque grace, a rich history, and hills that provide great city views at every turn.
Posted here are some photos:
On our website: http://www.dolcetours.com/photoalbum/port/photo1.htm
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 6932019240
Truly, every Port lover should visit the region at least once, including the upstream areas, where all the action is. We'd love you to come with La Dolce Vita Wine Tours, naturally! But one way or other, a trip there should be on everyone's bucket list.
It's always a nail-biter to run a new tour. But this time, I can truly say I had a great time. For starters, I think we selected our wineries well (they included Grahams, Kopke, Taylor, Ramos Pinto, Quinta do Tedo, Passadouro, Quinta do Vesuvio, plus 3 of the 5 Douro Boys: Quinta Vallado, Niepoort, and Quinta Vale Dona Maria). Just as importantly, our hosts were uniformly generous with their time, passionate about their work, and willing and able to answer all questions, from basic to arcane.
But above all, the Douro's scenery is breathtaking -- how the mountains fold and twist, how the terraces make patterns like hatchings on a Renaissance etching. The city of Oporto has its own charm as well, offering Baroque grace, a rich history, and hills that provide great city views at every turn.
Posted here are some photos:
On our website: http://www.dolcetours.com/photoalbum/port/photo1.htm
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 6932019240
Truly, every Port lover should visit the region at least once, including the upstream areas, where all the action is. We'd love you to come with La Dolce Vita Wine Tours, naturally! But one way or other, a trip there should be on everyone's bucket list.